Debris and damaged items sit on the sidewalk after being removed from a home in the Twin Oaks Estate after Hurricane Harvey caused widespread flooding in Houston, Texas on August 31, 2017. In Houston, America's fourth-largest city, some of the 2.3 million residents got relief as the raging waters receded. But in several other towns in the Lone Star State doused by days of torrential rains since Harvey smashed into the US Gulf Coast almost a week ago as a Category Four hurricane, the situation was dire. / AFP PHOTO / MARK RALSTON (Photo credit should read MARK RALSTON/AFP/Getty Images)

Members of the Olson family remove debris and damaged items from their father's home in the Twin Oaks Estate after Hurricane Harvey caused widespread flooding in Houston, Texas on August 31, 2017. In Houston, America's fourth-largest city, some of the 2.3 million residents got relief as the raging waters receded. But in several other towns in the Lone Star State doused by days of torrential rains since Harvey smashed into the US Gulf Coast almost a week ago as a Category Four hurricane, the situation was dire. / AFP PHOTO / MARK RALSTON (Photo credit should read MARK RALSTON/AFP/Getty Images)

Members of the Olson family remove debris and damaged items from their father's home in the Twin Oaks Estate after Hurricane Harvey caused widespread flooding in Houston, Texas on August 31, 2017. In Houston,

Personal items are seen as a homeowner salvages items from a flooded home as residents begin the recovery process from Hurricane Harvey August 31, 2017 in Houston, Texas. / AFP PHOTO / Brendan Smialowski

A photo of Stephanie Gutierrez who was missing until Sept. 1, 2017, provided on Aug. 31, 2017 to the missing persons center at the George R. Brown Convention Center on in the wake of Tropical Storm Harvey. Photo provided by Diamond Barron. less

A photo of Stephanie Gutierrez who was missing until Sept. 1, 2017, provided on Aug. 31, 2017 to the missing persons center at the George R. Brown Convention Center on in the wake of Tropical Storm Harvey. ... more

Photo: Gabrielle Banks

Image 5 of 70

Image 6 of 70

Families and friends try to reconnect through the missing persons center at the George R. Brown Convention Center on Aug. 31, 2017 in the wake of Tropical Storm Harvey.

Families and friends try to reconnect through the missing persons center at the George R. Brown Convention Center on Aug. 31, 2017 in the wake of Tropical Storm Harvey.

Photo: Gabrielle Banks

Image 7 of 70

Families and friends try to reconnect through the missing persons center at the George R. Brown Convention Center on Aug. 31, 2017 in the wake of Tropical Storm Harvey.

Families and friends try to reconnect through the missing persons center at the George R. Brown Convention Center on Aug. 31, 2017 in the wake of Tropical Storm Harvey.

Photo: Gabrielle Banks

Image 8 of 70

Families and friends try to reconnect through the missing persons center at the George R. Brown Convention Center on Aug. 31, 2017 in the wake of Tropical Storm Harvey.

Families and friends try to reconnect through the missing persons center at the George R. Brown Convention Center on Aug. 31, 2017 in the wake of Tropical Storm Harvey.

Angelina De Los Santos, 7, left, Vanessa Pasillas, 2, center, and Jade de los santos, 5, center right, watch videos with Rosemarie Pasillas, right, as people seek shelter at the George R. Brown Convention Center in Houston, TX on Monday, Aug 28, 2017. Rising water from Hurricane now Tropical Storm Harvey pushed thousands of people to rooftops or higher ground Sunday as the had to flee their homes in Houston.

A law enforcement officer asks people at the George R. Brown to make space to allow EMT to tend to a medical emergency, Monday, Aug. 28, 2017, in Houston.

A law enforcement officer asks people at the George R. Brown to make space to allow EMT to tend to a medical emergency, Monday, Aug. 28, 2017, in Houston.

Photo: Marie D. De Jesus, Houston Chronicle

Image 15 of 70

Image 16 of 70

Brayln Mathews Simms Jr., naps on a chair in the George R. Brown Center in Downtown Houston as Hurricane Harvey inches its way through the area on Sunday, Aug. 27, 2017.

Brayln Mathews Simms Jr., naps on a chair in the George R. Brown Center in Downtown Houston as Hurricane Harvey inches its way through the area on Sunday, Aug. 27, 2017.

Photo: Elizabeth Conley, Houston Chronicle

Image 17 of 70

A vet holds a dog at a shelter in the George R. Brown Convention Center during the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey on August 28, 2017 in Houston, Texas. Rescue teams in boats, trucks and helicopters scrambled Monday to reach hundreds of Texans marooned on flooded streets in and around the city of Houston before monster storm Harvey returns.

A vet holds a dog at a shelter in the George R. Brown Convention Center during the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey on August 28, 2017 in Houston, Texas. Rescue teams in boats, trucks and helicopters scrambled

People get off busses after being rescued as they seek shelter at the George R. Brown Convention Center in Houston, TX on Monday, Aug 28, 2017. Rising water from Hurricane now Tropical Storm Harvey pushed thousands of people to rooftops or higher ground Sunday as the had to flee their homes in Houston.

People get off busses after being rescued as they seek shelter at the George R. Brown Convention Center in Houston, TX on Monday, Aug 28, 2017. Rising water from Hurricane now Tropical Storm Harvey pushed

The Galban family, including Julieta, 8, Enrique and Gabriella, check in with the Red Cross at George R. Brown Convention Center on Monday.

The Galban family, including Julieta, 8, Enrique and Gabriella, check in with the Red Cross at George R. Brown Convention Center on Monday.

Photo: Elizabeth Conley, Staff

Image 20 of 70

Image 21 of 70

Volunteers sort through donated clothing at a shelter in the George R. Brown Convention Center during the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey on August 28, 2017 in Houston, Texas. Rescue teams in boats, trucks and helicopters scrambled Monday to reach hundreds of Texans marooned on flooded streets in and around the city of Houston before monster storm Harvey returns.

Volunteers sort through donated clothing at a shelter in the George R. Brown Convention Center during the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey on August 28, 2017 in Houston, Texas. Rescue teams in boats, trucks and

A reader submitted photos from the shelter set up inside the George R. Brown Convention Center on Sunday night, Aug. 27, 2017.

A reader submitted photos from the shelter set up inside the George R. Brown Convention Center on Sunday night, Aug. 27, 2017.

Photo: Jeena Lee

Image 23 of 70

A man waits to check into a shelter in the George R. Brown Convention Center during the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey on August 28, 2017 in Houston, Texas. Rescue teams in boats, trucks and helicopters scrambled Monday to reach hundreds of Texans marooned on flooded streets in and around the city of Houston before monster storm Harvey returns.

A man waits to check into a shelter in the George R. Brown Convention Center during the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey on August 28, 2017 in Houston, Texas. Rescue teams in boats, trucks and helicopters

People are helped by a National Guard member Sunday as they wait on Interstate 45 South near Edgebrook to board Metro buses to be taken to a shelter at the George R. Brown Convention Center. Many had fled from the nearby Clayton Holmes complex. less

People are helped by a National Guard member Sunday as they wait on Interstate 45 South near Edgebrook to board Metro buses to be taken to a shelter at the George R. Brown Convention Center. Many had fled from ... more

Photo: Melissa Phillip, Staff

Image 25 of 70

Image 26 of 70

A man is transferred during a medical emergency at the George R. Brown Convention Center which has been converted into a shelter for the victims of the Tropical Storm Harvey, Monday, Aug. 28, 2017, in Houston.

A man is transferred during a medical emergency at the George R. Brown Convention Center which has been converted into a shelter for the victims of the Tropical Storm Harvey, Monday, Aug. 28, 2017, in Houston.

Photo: Marie D. De Jesus, Houston Chronicle

Image 27 of 70

Oscar Galindo, Donato Galindo, 2, Oscar Galindo, 11, Andre Galindo, 9, and Maria Rodriguez relax while taking shelter at the George R Brown Convention Center after living inside a car since Saturday after the rain from the Tropical Storm Harvey flooded their home in Dickinson. Monday, Aug. 28, 2017, in Houston. less

Oscar Galindo, Donato Galindo, 2, Oscar Galindo, 11, Andre Galindo, 9, and Maria Rodriguez relax while taking shelter at the George R Brown Convention Center after living inside a car since Saturday after the ... more

Photo: Marie D. De Jesus, Houston Chronicle

Image 28 of 70

Oscar Galindo and his sons, Donato Galindo, 2, Oscar Galindo, 11, and Andre Galindo, 9, relax while taking shelter at the George R Brown Convention Center after living inside a car after the rain from the Tropical Storm Harvey flooded their home in Dickinson. Monday, Aug. 28, 2017, in Houston. less

Oscar Galindo and his sons, Donato Galindo, 2, Oscar Galindo, 11, and Andre Galindo, 9, relax while taking shelter at the George R Brown Convention Center after living inside a car after the rain from the ... more

Photo: Marie D. De Jesus, Houston Chronicle

Image 29 of 70

Ernie Ross tends to his wife Theresa Ross at the George R. Brown Convention Center after they were rescued by kayak from their flooded home, Monday, Aug. 28, 2017, in Houston.

Ernie Ross tends to his wife Theresa Ross at the George R. Brown Convention Center after they were rescued by kayak from their flooded home, Monday, Aug. 28, 2017, in Houston.

Photo: Marie D. De Jesus, Houston Chronicle

Image 30 of 70

Image 31 of 70

Theresa Ross was given a tank of oxygen when she arrived to the George R. Brown seeking shelter with her husband, Monday, Aug. 28, 2017, in Houston.

Theresa Ross was given a tank of oxygen when she arrived to the George R. Brown seeking shelter with her husband, Monday, Aug. 28, 2017, in Houston.

Photo: Marie D. De Jesus, Houston Chronicle

Image 32 of 70

Thousands take shelter from the Tropical Storm Harvey at the George R. Brown Convention Center, Monday, Aug. 28, 2017, in Houston.

Thousands take shelter from the Tropical Storm Harvey at the George R. Brown Convention Center, Monday, Aug. 28, 2017, in Houston.

Photo: Marie D. De Jesus, Houston Chronicle

Image 33 of 70

Terranysha Ferguson holds her son, Christian Phillips as she sits with the rest of her family at the George R. Brown Convention Center in Downtown Houston as Hurricane Harvey inches its way through the area on Sunday, Aug. 27, 2017. less

Terranysha Ferguson holds her son, Christian Phillips as she sits with the rest of her family at the George R. Brown Convention Center in Downtown Houston as Hurricane Harvey inches its way through the area on ... more

Photo: Elizabeth Conley, Houston Chronicle

Image 34 of 70

A young resident looks at a Red Cross worker as her dad gives her information at the George R. Brown Convention Center in Downtown Houston as Hurricane Harvey inches its way through the area on Sunday, Aug. 27, 2017. less

A young resident looks at a Red Cross worker as her dad gives her information at the George R. Brown Convention Center in Downtown Houston as Hurricane Harvey inches its way through the area on Sunday, Aug. ... more

Photo: Elizabeth Conley, Houston Chronicle

Image 35 of 70

Image 36 of 70

Emmanuel Mbilzi, 13, holds onto his brother, Noah, 3, as the two stay warm at the George R. Brown Convention Center in Downtown Houston as Hurricane Harvey inches its way through the area on Sunday, Aug. 27, 2017. less

Emmanuel Mbilzi, 13, holds onto his brother, Noah, 3, as the two stay warm at the George R. Brown Convention Center in Downtown Houston as Hurricane Harvey inches its way through the area on Sunday, Aug. 27, ... more

Photo: Elizabeth Conley, Houston Chronicle

Image 37 of 70

Tiffany Perhala of Houston offers food and waters to dogs as their owners line up outside of George R. Brown Convention Center. The temporary shelter was not allowing pets for those getting out of the way of Hurricane Harvey inches its way through the area on Sunday, Aug. 27, 2017. less

Tiffany Perhala of Houston offers food and waters to dogs as their owners line up outside of George R. Brown Convention Center. The temporary shelter was not allowing pets for those getting out of the way of ... more

Photo: Elizabeth Conley, Houston Chronicle

Image 38 of 70

Angelina De Los Santos, 7, left, Vanessa Pasillas, 2, center, and Jade de los santos, 5, center right, watch videos with Rosemarie Pasillas, right, as people seek shelter at the George R. Brown Convention Center in Houston, TX on Monday, Aug 28, 2017. Rising water from Hurricane now Tropical Storm Harvey pushed thousands of people to rooftops or higher ground Sunday as the had to flee their homes in Houston.

People rest in a shelter in the George R. Brown Convention Center during the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey on August 28, 2017 in Houston, Texas. Rescue teams in boats, trucks and helicopters scrambled Monday to reach hundreds of Texans marooned on flooded streets in and around the city of Houston before monster storm Harvey returns.

People rest in a shelter in the George R. Brown Convention Center during the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey on August 28, 2017 in Houston, Texas. Rescue teams in boats, trucks and helicopters scrambled Monday to

People wait at a shelter in the George R. Brown Convention Center during the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey on August 28, 2017 in Houston, Texas. Rescue teams in boats, trucks and helicopters scrambled Monday to reach hundreds of Texans marooned on flooded streets in and around the city of Houston before monster storm Harvey returns.

People wait at a shelter in the George R. Brown Convention Center during the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey on August 28, 2017 in Houston, Texas. Rescue teams in boats, trucks and helicopters scrambled Monday to

Flood victims move crates with pets at a shelter in the George R. Brown Convention Center during the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey on August 28, 2017 in Houston, Texas. Rescue teams in boats, trucks and helicopters scrambled Monday to reach hundreds of Texans marooned on flooded streets in and around the city of Houston before monster storm Harvey returns.

Flood victims move crates with pets at a shelter in the George R. Brown Convention Center during the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey on August 28, 2017 in Houston, Texas. Rescue teams in boats, trucks and

Volunteers sort through donated clothing at a shelter in the George R. Brown Convention Center during the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey on August 28, 2017 in Houston, Texas. Rescue teams in boats, trucks and helicopters scrambled Monday to reach hundreds of Texans marooned on flooded streets in and around the city of Houston before monster storm Harvey returns.

Volunteers sort through donated clothing at a shelter in the George R. Brown Convention Center during the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey on August 28, 2017 in Houston, Texas. Rescue teams in boats, trucks and

People wait to be checked by police before entering a shelter in the George R. Brown Convention Center during the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey on August 28, 2017 in Houston, Texas. Rescue teams in boats, trucks and helicopters scrambled Monday to reach hundreds of Texans marooned on flooded streets in and around the city of Houston before monster storm Harvey returns.

People wait to be checked by police before entering a shelter in the George R. Brown Convention Center during the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey on August 28, 2017 in Houston, Texas. Rescue teams in boats,

People wait to check into a shelter in the George R. Brown Convention Center during the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey on August 28, 2017 in Houston, Texas. Rescue teams in boats, trucks and helicopters scrambled Monday to reach hundreds of Texans marooned on flooded streets in and around the city of Houston before monster storm Harvey returns.

People wait to check into a shelter in the George R. Brown Convention Center during the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey on August 28, 2017 in Houston, Texas. Rescue teams in boats, trucks and helicopters

People check in to a shelter in the George R. Brown Convention Center during the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey on August 28, 2017 in Houston, Texas. Rescue teams in boats, trucks and helicopters scrambled Monday to reach hundreds of Texans marooned on flooded streets in and around the city of Houston before monster storm Harvey returns.

People check in to a shelter in the George R. Brown Convention Center during the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey on August 28, 2017 in Houston, Texas. Rescue teams in boats, trucks and helicopters scrambled

People check in with their pets to a shelter in the George R. Brown Convention Center during the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey on August 28, 2017 in Houston, Texas. Rescue teams in boats, trucks and helicopters scrambled Monday to reach hundreds of Texans marooned on flooded streets in and around the city of Houston before monster storm Harvey returns.

People check in with their pets to a shelter in the George R. Brown Convention Center during the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey on August 28, 2017 in Houston, Texas. Rescue teams in boats, trucks and helicopters

People wait to be checked by police before entering a shelter in the George R. Brown Convention Center during the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey on August 28, 2017 in Houston, Texas. Rescue teams in boats, trucks and helicopters scrambled Monday to reach hundreds of Texans marooned on flooded streets in and around the city of Houston before monster storm Harvey returns.

People wait to be checked by police before entering a shelter in the George R. Brown Convention Center during the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey on August 28, 2017 in Houston, Texas. Rescue teams in boats,

Flood victims eat and rest at a shelter in the George R. Brown Convention Center during the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey on August 28, 2017 in Houston, Texas.

Flood victims eat and rest at a shelter in the George R. Brown Convention Center during the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey on August 28, 2017 in Houston, Texas.

Photo: BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP/Getty Images

Image 52 of 70

Flood victims arrive at a shelter in the George R. Brown Convention Center during the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey on August 28, 2017 in Houston, Texas.

Flood victims arrive at a shelter in the George R. Brown Convention Center during the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey on August 28, 2017 in Houston, Texas.

Photo: BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP/Getty Images

Image 53 of 70

Flood victims look for clothing at a shelter in the George R. Brown Convention Center during the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey on August 28, 2017 in Houston, Texas.

Flood victims look for clothing at a shelter in the George R. Brown Convention Center during the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey on August 28, 2017 in Houston, Texas.

Photo: BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP/Getty Images

Image 54 of 70

People wait to check into a shelter in the George R. Brown Convention Center during the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey on August 28, 2017 in Houston, Texas. Rescue teams in boats, trucks and helicopters scrambled Monday to reach hundreds of Texans marooned on flooded streets in and around the city of Houston before monster storm Harvey returns.

People wait to check into a shelter in the George R. Brown Convention Center during the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey on August 28, 2017 in Houston, Texas. Rescue teams in boats, trucks and helicopters

Flood victims arrive at a shelter in the George R. Brown Convention Center during the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey on August 28, 2017 in Houston, Texas.

Flood victims arrive at a shelter in the George R. Brown Convention Center during the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey on August 28, 2017 in Houston, Texas.

Photo: BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP/Getty Images

Image 57 of 70

People wait outside a shelter in the George R. Brown Convention Center during the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey on August 28, 2017 in Houston, Texas.

People wait outside a shelter in the George R. Brown Convention Center during the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey on August 28, 2017 in Houston, Texas.

Photo: BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP/Getty Images

Image 58 of 70

A man smokes at a shelter in the George R. Brown Convention Center during the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey on August 28, 2017 in Houston, Texas.

A man smokes at a shelter in the George R. Brown Convention Center during the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey on August 28, 2017 in Houston, Texas.

Photo: BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP/Getty Images

Image 59 of 70

Harvey GRB

Harvey GRB

Photo: Nancy S, Nancy Sarnoff

Image 60 of 70

Image 61 of 70

LaQuita Hall, left, waits with her children Leilah, 8 months, and Marquise, 6, and mother, Frede Junior, holding dog, Debo, at an evacuation point at Cavender's Boot City on I45 south near Edgebrook where they will board a Metro bus to be taken to a shelter at the GRB Convention Center Sunday, August 27, 2017. Much of the area is flooded from rains after Hurricane Harvey.

LaQuita Hall, left, waits with her children Leilah, 8 months, and Marquise, 6, and mother, Frede Junior, holding dog, Debo, at an evacuation point at Cavender's Boot City on I45 south near Edgebrook where they

People are helped by a National Guard member as they wait on I45 south near Edgebrook to board Metro buses to be taken to a shelter at the GRB Convention Center Sunday, August 27, 2017. Much of the area is flooded from rains after Hurricane Harvey.

People are helped by a National Guard member as they wait on I45 south near Edgebrook to board Metro buses to be taken to a shelter at the GRB Convention Center Sunday, August 27, 2017. Much of the area is

A man carries two children as they board a Metro bus on I 45 south near Edgebrook to be taken to a shelter at the GRB Convention Center Sunday, August 27, 2017. Much of the area is flooded from rains after Hurricane Harvey.

A man carries two children as they board a Metro bus on I 45 south near Edgebrook to be taken to a shelter at the GRB Convention Center Sunday, August 27, 2017. Much of the area is flooded from rains after

A boy carries diapers as he walks to board a Metro bus on I 45 south near Edgebrook to be taken to a shelter at the GRB Convention Center Sunday, August 27, 2017. Much of the area is flooded from rains after Hurricane Harvey.

A boy carries diapers as he walks to board a Metro bus on I 45 south near Edgebrook to be taken to a shelter at the GRB Convention Center Sunday, August 27, 2017. Much of the area is flooded from rains after

A reader submitted photos from the shelter set up inside the George R. Brown Convention Center on Sunday night, Aug. 27, 2017.

A reader submitted photos from the shelter set up inside the George R. Brown Convention Center on Sunday night, Aug. 27, 2017.

Photo: Jeena Lee

Image 68 of 70

A reader submitted photos from the shelter set up inside the George R. Brown Convention Center on Sunday night, Aug. 27, 2017.

A reader submitted photos from the shelter set up inside the George R. Brown Convention Center on Sunday night, Aug. 27, 2017.

Photo: Jeena Lee

Image 69 of 70

A man sleeps as people seek shelter at the George R. Brown Convention Center in Houston, TX on Monday, Aug 28, 2017. Rising water from Hurricane now Tropical Storm Harvey pushed thousands of people to rooftops or higher ground Sunday as the had to flee their homes in Houston.

A man sleeps as people seek shelter at the George R. Brown Convention Center in Houston, TX on Monday, Aug 28, 2017. Rising water from Hurricane now Tropical Storm Harvey pushed thousands of people to rooftops

With calls coming in at a clip of 500 to 900 an hour, Federal Emergency Management Agency workers said Friday that their phone lines at times are being overwhelmed.

Sometimes the queues can stretch an hour.

"They're not down. Down means that they're inoperable. They're very much operable, but they're just overwhelmed."

That's from a Department of Homeland Security official answering media calls Friday afternoon but who would not give her name.

The anonymous spokeswoman added that despite reports to the contrary, there have been no system crashes on their main Hurricane Harvey assistance web site: https://www.disasterassistance.gov

That's where storm victims are encouraged to go first, if they have access to the internet.

The spokeswoman noted, however, that some storm victims might be "timing out" on government web pages if they don't have all their needed information at hand.

"If you're going to a web site and you're trying to input information and 10,000 other people are on that web site trying to put in their information, and you don't have all your information in front of you, I don't know if it's timing out or not or what specific issues people are having," she said.

The main problem, the spokeswoman said, is the large number of people seeking help at the same time, especially during business hours.

"There are a lot of people seeking assistance, and there's only so much that we can do to help people," she said.

"The public can really do their part allowing us to help them by being prepared when they do make those phone calls or go to that web site," she said. "If everyone is calling at the same time, then yes, some people are getting stuck in a queue where they're waiting 45 minutes or an hour, and then some people are just getting kicked out because the queue is full, there's just no more ability for it to take calls."

To correct the problem, she said FEMA is posting on its main web site, https://www.disasterassistance.gov, the correct numbers people need to call, depending on their need.

"We're overwhelmed with people who are trying to get assistance both in Houston and Louisiana," she said. "It just gets worse and worse. We're getting calls about everything from people who are looking for jobs, to people who are looking for volunteer opportunities, to people who are looking to do business with the federal government. So there are a lot of different phone calls that are coming in."

She noted that if storm victims call the survivor assistance line (1-800-621-3362), instead of going to the web site, all the information has to be taken verbally. Things go faster if callers have their vital information, such as insurance policy numbers.

"So there are some things the public can do as well," the spokeswoman said. "For instance, when you call to ask for help, make sure you have a pen and paper handy. Something as simple as that."